This is where my theory kicks in. If I was to develop a CCG video game, I'd want it to reflect what it's really like to play these games with real people in the real world. Where are the booster packs you can buy from the localstore? Where are all the different people (with different decks) who you can challenge? What about becoming good enough to enter a tournament?

By applying this rule, I believe that the game designers are told, "sure make the game good, but it can't be the same as the real card game". And so, bad video games are born.

There is of course an exception to this theory. That is, you make your CCG video game just like the real world, but players must buy their virtual cards with real money. Case in point Magic: The Gathering Online.

As you progress though the game and your ranking increases, so will your allowance. Giving you opportunity to buy more boosters.

Sure you could have a storyline, but take a page from the Grand Theft Auto book and include "fixed" characters at the different locations, that you can chose to approach when ready, to advance the story.